Texas a swing state? Not on my watch, says Ted Cruz

This month, the Texas Senate candidate used President Barack Obama’s words against him in an attempt to drum up campaign funds.

“President Obama and the Texas Democrats think they have a chance in the Lone Star State, but with your support we’ll have an overwhelming victory and demonstrate that Texas is conservative, stands for liberty, and preserving the American Dream,” a blog post on his campaign site read.

In July, Obama told a group of Texas Democrats in San Antonio that the state might be turning purple, ABC News reported.

“The next four months, you guys won’t see them, because, you know, you’re not considered one of the battleground states, although that’s going to be changing soon in the next four months,” said Obama, talking about negative campaign ads.

Political scientists are skeptical that the state, traditionally Republican and already considered a win for Mitt Romney, is going to turn Democratic. At least not yet.

“I don’t anticipate Texas turning or shifting massively in this election,” said Efren Perez, a Vanderbilt University political scientist. “That doesn’t happen in a (single) election.”

Perez called the advertising a “fear tactic” both parties use to drum up money as an election nears. Recently, Cruz switched gears to a football-themed fundraising pitch.

“If you’re trying to offer a pressing reason for why you should donate money to a candidate, point to something alarming,” Perez said.